Star Studded fleet for the 600 mile Caribbean tour
The RORC Caribbean 600, as the name suggests, is a 605 mile race around the Caribbean islands starting from Antigua. It was first run in February this year and attracted world wide interest. The 2010 race is due to start on Monday 22nd February and is already amassing a fleet of star studded boats and the best sailors from around the world.
The race record holder, the 100 foot super maxi ICAP Leopard, owned by London property millionaire Mike Slade, will be shipped from Sydney in January after her attempt to win the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Taking the same ship as Leopard is the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race winner, Niklas Zennstrom's JV72, Rán, who will also be attempting to win the Rolex Sydney Hobart:
"It will be a quick turnaround at Hobart", commented Leopard's boat captain Chris Sherlock, "but we are determined to make the Caribbean Race because the beautiful trade wind conditions, blue sea, blue sky and guaranteed wind are the perfect conditions for a boat like Leopard".
Also joining Rán and Leopard in the race will be the 80 foot Beau Geste whose owner Karl Kwok hails from Hong Kong and has a star studded line up of professional sailors with lots of America's Cup experience.
From America we can expect to see two very competitive boats: The STP 65 Rosebud owned by Roger Sturgeon, who won the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart and will revel in these perfect conditions and Tom Hill's brand new Reichel Pugh 75 Titan will also be looking to stretch her legs in the wonderful conditions around the Caribbean.